Category: Energy Matters
The twentieth century way of life has been made available, largely due to the miracle of cheap energy. The price of energy has been at record lows for the past century and a half.As oil becomes increasingly scarce, it is becoming obvious to everyone, that the rapid economic and industrial growth we have enjoyed for that time is not sustainable.Now, the hunt is on. For renewable sources of energy, for alternative sources of energy, for a way of life that is less dependent on cheap energy.Â
admin /1 June, 2008
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| Credit – IBM |
Last week, IBM announced a research breakthrough in photovoltaics (PV) technology that could significantly reduce the cost of harnessing the sun’s power for electricity.
In the same way that children in science class use a magnifying glass to burn a leaf, IBM scientists are using a large lens to concentrate the sun’s power, capturing a record 230 watts onto a centimeter square solar cell, in a technology known as concentrator photovoltaics, or CPV. That energy is then converted into 70 watts of usable electrical power, about five times the electrical power density generated by typical cells using CPV technology in solar farms.
If it can overcome additional challenges to move this project out of the lab, IBM believes it can significantly reduce the cost of a typical CPV-based system. By using a much lower number of photovoltaic cells in a solar farm and concentrating more light onto each cell using larger lenses, IBM’s system enables a significant cost advantage in terms of a lesser number of total components.
admin /26 May, 2008
By Steve Andrews and Randy Udall – American Society for Peak OilOn April 13, Reuters reported the following from Riyadh:Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah said he had ordered some new oil discoveries left untapped to preserve oil wealth in the world’s top exporter for future generations…“When there were some new finds, I told them, ‘no, leave Continue Reading →
admin /25 May, 2008
A public meeting in Muswellbrook this morning puts further pressure on the Iemma government to abandon their electricity sell-off. Greens NSW MP John Kaye, who is visiting the Hunter as part of the state-wide campaign to stop the sale, is a speaker at the meeting.
Dr Kaye said: “Power workers, pensioners, environmentalists and households are getting very angry as Premier Morris Iemma and his Treasurer Morris Iemma push ahead with their scheme to privatise the state’s power stations and electricity retailers.
admin /24 May, 2008
The rising cost of jet fuel has once again prompted Qantas Airways Ltd to increase the price of its air tickets.Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the increases were unavoidable given the continuing high costs of oil. Mr Dixon said Qantas had increased its fuel hedging and was now covered for 59% of expected crude Continue Reading →
admin /24 May, 2008
Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today rejected Prime Minister Rudd’s extraordinary claim to have done all he can on fuel prices, highlighting five decisions his Government has made that have a negative impact and should be reversed.
Senator Milne said, “Prime Minister Rudd’s claim to have done all he can on fuel prices is a blinkered view which completely ignores the need to plan urgently for peak oil and wean Australia off our oil addiction fast.
admin /18 May, 2008
Stock theft is costing the Queensland beef industry in excess of $2.1 million a year, leading AgForce Cattle to instigate a series of meetings with the Queensland Police Service and other government agencies to discuss rural crime.
AgForce Cattle director and Harrisville beef producer, Ian Harsant, said the first meeting was held today with the Queensland Police Service’s Stock and Rural Crimes Squad (SARCIS), the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and Biosecurity Queensland.
Mr Harsant said one of the main topics was the need for the Department of Public Prosecution to appoint a specialist rural crimes prosecutor.
During the three years from 2005-07, there were between 2300 and 4700 cattle reported stolen annually with only about one-third of them being recovered.
